Chronicle journalist Chris Waugh has named a quartet of Newcastle United players he believes have no future at St. James’ Park.
During a Q&A with the outlet (12.11), Waugh suggested that of the six senior players the Magpies currently have out on loan, Jack Colback, Henri Saivet, Achraf Lazaar, and Rolando Aarons will struggle to force their way back into contention on Tyneside.
Waugh said: “Jack Colback may have another year remaining on his deal after the current campaign, but he admitted last week that he does not expect to be playing for Newcastle ever again – even if Benitez, with who he has fallen out, did depart this summer.
“Saivet, meanwhile, is out in Turkey at the moment and has been a disastrous signing, so Newcastle will look to sell him permanently if they can, though they may just have to accept another loan move if interest is scarce.
“The same is true of Lazaar, who joined Sheffield Wednesday in January but who had trained with the reserves throughout the first half of the season having failed to find a club last summer.
“As for Aarons, well the 23-year-old may still appear to be a talent largely unfulfilled, but he is simply not a Benitez-type character and I can’t see the pair working together long term. Should Benitez leave, potentially he may still have a Newcastle future.”
OPINION
This might not come as too much of surprise to hear for Newcastle United fans, but there might be some supporters who hope that the club aren’t too hasty when making decisions about a couple of these players. Colback is seemingly a lost cause, and there won’t be too much sleep lost over that with the influx of midfield talent the Magpies have benefitted from in recent weeks, while Saivet has been an unmitigated disaster ever since he moved to England. As for Achraf and Aarons, however, both are impressing during their loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday, and while they may not be everybody’s first choice for a second chance, if they keep up their current form, they might just earn one. Aarons in particular is an interesting one, and the young winger finally looks to be shown the kind of form that he was always expected to one day. With Kenedy’s loan spell coming to an end, and with Christian Atsu failing to impress, there could be a vacancy for a decent covering winger. Why not Aarons?
